Section 1: Golden Ages of China
The Tang and Song were two important dynasties in China. The Tang ruled for almost 300 years and is estimated to have been home to almost 1 million people. Tang Taizong was a great ruler of the Tang dynasty. Taizong promoted Confucianism and worked to strengthen law and order in China. The Song dynasty expanded the merit system, and promoted the spread of knowledge. The Mongols conquered all of Northern China by 1215. China prospered under Kublai Khan, a Mongol ruler, but the Mongols were overthrown in 1368.
Section 2: Medieval Japan:
The Heian period of Japan lasted from 794 to 1185. It's capital was Kyoto. Japanese culture thrived during the Heian period. During the 1000's, the nobles became very powerful in Japan. They hired private armies and peasants to do their work. This system where poor people are legally bound to work for rich landowners is called feudalism. Many wealthy Japanese practiced feudalism. The Portuguese arrived in Japan in 1543. A lively trade developed. However, the Tokugawa shogunates began to worry that the Europeans were going to attack Japan. They ordered a shutdown of Japan and allowed no foreign contact for more than 200 years.
Section 3: The Great Mughal Empire in India
Muslims invaded India around 1000. A series or sultans, or Muslim rulers, started to rule about 100 years after their invasion. This period of their rule is called the Delhi Sultanate. In 1526, though, the Delhi Sultanate was conquered by a Mongol prince named Babur. He founded the Mughal Empire. Babur's grandson, Akbar, was the greatest Mughal emperor of India. Akbar was very tolerant of other cultures. 100 years after Akbar's death, though, Shah Jahan came to power and spent a fortune on expensive buildings like the Taj Mahal, a tomb for his late wife. Jahan's son, Aurangzeb spent still more on expensive wars. He also placed unfair laws on the Hindus. They rebelled, and the Mughal Empire split apart into small kingdoms and fell apart soon afterwards.
Ancient Artifact:
"Kanewaka, also known as Takahira: Sword blade (katana) (2007.478.2a,b)". In Heilbrunn Timeline of Art History. New York: The Metropolitan Museum of Art, 2000–. http://www.metmuseum.org/toah/works-of-art/2007.478.2a,b (April 2009)
This is a sword blade from the Edo period of Feudal Japan, dated June 1622. It is made of Kanewaka steel, also known as Takahira steel. Kanekawa was the most famous swordsmith of Kaga (now located in Ishikawa Prefecture) during the shinto (new sword) period, which lasted about 200 years. Takahira signed his name on this sword while forging it.
Current Event:
Recently in Japan there was a massive earthquake and tsunami, which hit the Fukushima Power Plant in Japan, causing a nuclear crisis. Fortunately, the Tokyo Power Company now says that they plan to cool the reactors and end the nuclear crisis by nine months from now.
The Tang and Song were two important dynasties in China. The Tang ruled for almost 300 years and is estimated to have been home to almost 1 million people. Tang Taizong was a great ruler of the Tang dynasty. Taizong promoted Confucianism and worked to strengthen law and order in China. The Song dynasty expanded the merit system, and promoted the spread of knowledge. The Mongols conquered all of Northern China by 1215. China prospered under Kublai Khan, a Mongol ruler, but the Mongols were overthrown in 1368.
Section 2: Medieval Japan:
The Heian period of Japan lasted from 794 to 1185. It's capital was Kyoto. Japanese culture thrived during the Heian period. During the 1000's, the nobles became very powerful in Japan. They hired private armies and peasants to do their work. This system where poor people are legally bound to work for rich landowners is called feudalism. Many wealthy Japanese practiced feudalism. The Portuguese arrived in Japan in 1543. A lively trade developed. However, the Tokugawa shogunates began to worry that the Europeans were going to attack Japan. They ordered a shutdown of Japan and allowed no foreign contact for more than 200 years.
Section 3: The Great Mughal Empire in India
Muslims invaded India around 1000. A series or sultans, or Muslim rulers, started to rule about 100 years after their invasion. This period of their rule is called the Delhi Sultanate. In 1526, though, the Delhi Sultanate was conquered by a Mongol prince named Babur. He founded the Mughal Empire. Babur's grandson, Akbar, was the greatest Mughal emperor of India. Akbar was very tolerant of other cultures. 100 years after Akbar's death, though, Shah Jahan came to power and spent a fortune on expensive buildings like the Taj Mahal, a tomb for his late wife. Jahan's son, Aurangzeb spent still more on expensive wars. He also placed unfair laws on the Hindus. They rebelled, and the Mughal Empire split apart into small kingdoms and fell apart soon afterwards.
Ancient Artifact:
This is a sword blade from the Edo period of Feudal Japan, dated June 1622. It is made of Kanewaka steel, also known as Takahira steel. Kanekawa was the most famous swordsmith of Kaga (now located in Ishikawa Prefecture) during the shinto (new sword) period, which lasted about 200 years. Takahira signed his name on this sword while forging it.
Current Event:
Recently in Japan there was a massive earthquake and tsunami, which hit the Fukushima Power Plant in Japan, causing a nuclear crisis. Fortunately, the Tokyo Power Company now says that they plan to cool the reactors and end the nuclear crisis by nine months from now.Click here for more information on my current event - Japan's Nuclear Crisis at the Fukushima Power Plant